The first night back for the cadets of 497 included a squadron meeting where they were asked their ideas for the forthcoming year. The cadets had plenty of ideas, some more than others, with some really wacky suggestions and ideas as well as lots of comments and observations on some of the more usual and expected activities. Training Officer Pilot Officer Seymour said though that even the strangest suggestions throw up ideas, some of which are currently being worked out.

A look back over last years calendar and training programme shows just how busy the cadets and staff were. With participation in camps at Coningsby, Brampton, Linton-on-Ouse, RIAT and HMS Bristol, as well as overseas camps in Cyprus and Gibraltar, many of the squadron got to experience life on an RAF base, some for the first time. Sports-wise the squadron participated in the Wing athletics championship, the 5 a side football competition and the netball competition, with particularly amazing results for the netball team, in their first competition they took the eventual winners to sudden death, only narrowly losing at 18 all. They are keenly looking forward to participating again this year, as are the 5 a side team, which now has a junior and senior team for the first time ever.

The squadron also had great success at Wing Training Day, taking both the percussion section and the ensemble, sadly neither of these have a trophy, but as the team have now won these for two years running, they are hoping for one next year. This meant the squadron also got to compete at Regional Training Day again, as well as doing the catering for that event! Other achievements last year, included 1 cadet gaining blue gliding wings, two gaining bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards and several staff and cadet BTEC awards. Along with the work, there were also a number of fun events, including a James Bond night, an Australian evening, a Hallowe'en Banquet, a COs Curry Night and a Christmas Party. Cadets also assisted at a number of community events including the Poppy collection and at a horse show, the opening of the new scout hut and the Remembrance Day Parades. The visit from 504 reserves squadron had been a highlight of the year, along with a visit from SAC Bull, a previous CWO on the squadron, who came to talk about his experiences in the RAF.

A new event for the year was the weekend Inter Flight Competition, which involved the two flights competing at a number of initiative exercises, with Hercules again proving their superiority. This event was so successful that it is intended to continue it for 2010, including a drill and continuity competition. The great success however of 2009 was the successful recruitment of new cadets, bringing the squadron numbers to a very healthy total. In fact, so successful has the recruitment been, that a new and third flight has been introduced for new cadets to join for the first four months of their cadet career. The expedition to Derbyshire was also a great success, with cadets improving in their navigation and camp skills immensely, as well as having fun and improving teamwork and leadership.

Altogether the year was a great success, although quite tiring, particularly for the staff, who in addition to attendance at cadet events, also attended shooting, radio, wing and corps training events, with two staff qualifying as qCWHT. In addition with two staff involved at the Regional Activity Centre, logistics for events can be quite problematic, so the squadron is justifiably proud of its 2009 performance, and plan to make 2010 even better.